The bathroom is finally done -- except for finding some finishing touches like a mirror and art work. I'm really happy with the way the colors turned out!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Bathroom Paint
The bathroom is finally done -- except for finding some finishing touches like a mirror and art work. I'm really happy with the way the colors turned out!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Almost Moving Day
Been packing and packing and packing. I can't believe how much stuff we have, it just keeps coming. The local charitable thrift stores will be profiting handsomely from the move. Moving day is tomorrow. Not sure we're going to be ready!
On a different note, I still subscribe to a real estate listing email service. The more new listings I see, the happier I am with what I bought! I'm feeling very pleased about that.
On a different note, I still subscribe to a real estate listing email service. The more new listings I see, the happier I am with what I bought! I'm feeling very pleased about that.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Floors (aka Oh, that room too?)
For the past few days, the floor re-finisher has been at the house with his guys. I picked a color called golden oak for the white oak living & dining room floor. The color is lighter, but really brings out the grain. The rest of the floors are Douglas Fir and I went with antique brown. They came better than I could have hoped for! My contractor couldn't stop raving. The Oak glows, the pine is rich and multi-colored. I can't wait to find my camera and get some pictures.
One snag -- for some reason the floor guy ignored one of the bedrooms. He told me he misunderstood. But the skipped bedroom and kitchen both had old linoleum that had been installed with the wrong glue. It was a bear to get up and chewed through sandpaper like no body's business. They finally had to resort to hand scrapping. I don't doubt that after the kitchen they gambled on my overlooking it. They'll be doing that floor tomorrow. It'll cost a little extra -- just a little -- but if I pay it we can both be happy in the end. I already knew the flooring was horrible to deal with when the guy who thought he could do it for $100 said forget it. A little overrun was expected, just not the delay. Move in is Monday and I'm worried the floor won't be fully cured yet.
One snag -- for some reason the floor guy ignored one of the bedrooms. He told me he misunderstood. But the skipped bedroom and kitchen both had old linoleum that had been installed with the wrong glue. It was a bear to get up and chewed through sandpaper like no body's business. They finally had to resort to hand scrapping. I don't doubt that after the kitchen they gambled on my overlooking it. They'll be doing that floor tomorrow. It'll cost a little extra -- just a little -- but if I pay it we can both be happy in the end. I already knew the flooring was horrible to deal with when the guy who thought he could do it for $100 said forget it. A little overrun was expected, just not the delay. Move in is Monday and I'm worried the floor won't be fully cured yet.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tile Fireplace Mystery
I emailed photos of my fireplace to Chris Casady at tilenut.com. He said that while the motif appears to be Batchelder, the vivid colors and shiny finish would be highly unusual. He recommended I send pictures to Tile Heritage Foundation and Tile Restoration Center for their opinions. I'm very curious to find out who made these beautiful tiles. Can't wait to hear back from these folks, maybe there's an Antique Roadshow in my future!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Day 1
Today I got the keys to my first home, my dream home! A 1926 bungalow in San Pedro, California. It has all the charm that anyone could ask for -- wood siding, wide front porch, amazing Batchelder tile fireplace, gorgeous built-ins and moldings, coved ceilings, even the vintage O'Keefe & Merritt stove came with it. The icing on the cake is the small granny flat that I will be able to rent out. With its original Murphy bed, built-ins and dressing room off of the bathroom, its got as much, if not more, charm than the big house.
I still can't believe that most of the built-ins survived all this time without being painted over! The property has obviously been loved over the years. I think I am only the 4th owner, having bought the place from Mr. W, who inherited it from his parents around 1965. The parents bought it in 1945. I am very grateful to grateful to Mr. W for picking me to buy his beautiful family home (and so happy his kids didn't want to keep it!).
Before I move in, the original knob & tube wiring will be replaced, floors refinished, backyard fencing, and interior paint (still working out colors). The living/dining room is oak, with doug fir in the rest of the house. All the linoleum is coming up, everything except the bathroom will be wood.
The bathroom is also getting a face lift. A leak and L.A. water conservation rules necessitated a new sub-floor, flooring and toilet. When I saw the shabby old vanity (not original to the home) surrounded by the gleaming new sub-floor, I realized it had to go. A pedestal sink will go into its place. The sink and toilet I picked are from the Kohler Cimarron suite. I think they'll fit the feel of the house nicely, and they were quite affordable. (Tip -- efaucets.com was able to beat the pants of the local home store prices -- no tax or shipping either. I saved about $110 on the sink alone.) The flooring is going to be an affordable vinyl tile that has the look of slate. Someday the bathroom will get a real remodel, but for now it's getting a reasonably priced update.
Future projects will include exterior paint, landscaping, lighting, a kitchen re-do (planning to preserve what's there and add to it) and.....?
I still can't believe that most of the built-ins survived all this time without being painted over! The property has obviously been loved over the years. I think I am only the 4th owner, having bought the place from Mr. W, who inherited it from his parents around 1965. The parents bought it in 1945. I am very grateful to grateful to Mr. W for picking me to buy his beautiful family home (and so happy his kids didn't want to keep it!).
Before I move in, the original knob & tube wiring will be replaced, floors refinished, backyard fencing, and interior paint (still working out colors). The living/dining room is oak, with doug fir in the rest of the house. All the linoleum is coming up, everything except the bathroom will be wood.
The bathroom is also getting a face lift. A leak and L.A. water conservation rules necessitated a new sub-floor, flooring and toilet. When I saw the shabby old vanity (not original to the home) surrounded by the gleaming new sub-floor, I realized it had to go. A pedestal sink will go into its place. The sink and toilet I picked are from the Kohler Cimarron suite. I think they'll fit the feel of the house nicely, and they were quite affordable. (Tip -- efaucets.com was able to beat the pants of the local home store prices -- no tax or shipping either. I saved about $110 on the sink alone.) The flooring is going to be an affordable vinyl tile that has the look of slate. Someday the bathroom will get a real remodel, but for now it's getting a reasonably priced update.
Future projects will include exterior paint, landscaping, lighting, a kitchen re-do (planning to preserve what's there and add to it) and.....?
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